Thoughts on unconditional love

Make God's Unconditional Love Visible

 

Whenever, contrary to the world’s vindictiveness, we love our enemy, we exhibit something of the perfect love of God, whose will is to bring all human beings together as children of one Father. Whenever we forgive instead of getting angry at one another, bless instead of cursing one another, tend one another’s wounds instead of rubbing salt into them, hearten instead of discouraging one another, give hope instead of driving one another to despair, hug instead of harassing one another, welcome instead of cold-shouldering one another, thank instead of criticizing one another, praise instead of maligning one another . . . in short, whenever we opt for and not against one another, we make God’s unconditional love visible; we are diminishing violence and giving birth to a new community.

 

Henri Nouwen

 

 

Thoughts on fear

The little box that fear built

by Marti Fischer

Fear, in my opinion puts us into a little box. Even though it is entirely too small for us to fit in, I think that, like a bully, fear chases after us until we jump into the little box to try and get away. The problem is, we don't fit. We try to squeeze in whatever way we can, but however hard we try, we leave an arm or a leg, or our head sticking out. 

Fear can overcome us on any ordinary day - like when we have been "had" or we feel like everything is "too big" for us, or we think we do not have what it takes to do what is called for. In the little box, fear is thrilled that an attitude of denial seeps in as we find good reasons and rationalizations for bad behavior, and justify unacceptable actions in others as well as ourselves. 

Fear deceives us; telling us we are not capable of doing more. In the little box, fear says we have no initiative, no energy, no get up and go. This is because we either cannot do the right thing right, or we have to always be 100% right, and thus, not able to show up for anything until we are perfect.  

In the little box, fear makes sure there are no perspectives except little things for little people ... like we become when in the little box.  

We left everything we need to be big on the outside. We left behind who we truly are.  You see, fear makes sure there is no room for us to be who we are in Christ. We don't even fit in the little box by ourself, much less anyone else. While in the little box, fear almost guarantees we will never be interactive and gracious.

How to escape the little box? How do we eliminate fear in our lives? 

Get out of the box and go. Step on fear - no, stamp on fear. Acton  dissipates fear. Head for the light. Be centered in Christ. Remain focused. And through the Holy Spirit, with finesse, give it your all - always willing to graciously give more from what has been given to you... Grace.

 

 

Thoughts on stress

Stress and Thanks

 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

It’s not a law of physics, but it is a law of common sense: No two objects can occupy the same space at the same time. (There are some exceptions in the realm of molecular matter, but let’s stick to everyday “stuff.”) That makes perfect sense to us and we have no reason to try to prove that idea wrong. We move one thing if we want to set another thing in its place.

Strangely, we are not as convinced when it comes to spiritual things. For example, we are willing to worry about a problem and proclaim our faith in God at the same time. We don’t have a spiritual law that invalidates our effort, but our experience says it’s contradictory to worry and to praise God simultaneously. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the apostle Paul says there are three things we can do simultaneously since they support one another—rejoice, pray, and give thanks. The prayerful practice of joy and thanksgiving leaves no room for stress or worry.

At the first sign of stress, pray and give thanks to God for the joy that comes from trusting Him in all things. Not for all things, but in all things. 

Dr. David Jeremiah

 

The measure of our spirituality is the amount of praise and thanksgiving in our prayer.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Thoughts on virtue

Thoughts on your mission

What do you need for your mission? You need a keen sense of God as the absolute center of your life. In a word, you require the spiritual gifts of piety and fear of the Lord. I realize that these terms can sound fussy and puritanical, but they are actually naming something strong and essential.

You need fear of the Lord, which does not mean that you are afraid of God. It means that nothing to you is more important than God, that everything in your life centers around and is subordinate to your love for God. And your equipping needs to include piety. That means that you honor God above everything else, that you worship him alone. These spiritual gifts enable you to find true balance; they allow you to know what your life is about.

Equipped with these gifts, you are ready for mission. Having received the fire of the Holy Spirit, you are ready to set the world on fire. 

Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on humility

Going With the Flow

 

The Lord is my shepherd. . . . He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:1-2

 

In the Summer Olympic sport of kayaking, contestants mostly go with the current, navigating through gates. At times they are asked to reverse course, paddle against the whitewater current, go through the gate, then reverse direction back into the mainstream current. Going with the current is easier than going against the current.

The same is true in the Christian life. James 4:6 says that God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. Humility is going with God’s “current” while pride is resisting His “current.” Think of God’s role as a shepherd of His sheep. One of a shepherd’s responsibilities is to lead his sheep. Following the shepherd is to go with the flow; going one’s own way is to risk danger. The Bible is filled with images of God as a shepherd who leads His sheep. Contented, peaceful sheep are those who follow God into places of rest and provision.

When life gets challenging, check to see if you are following God or not. Even if He leads us into a storm, as long as He is there we can be at rest (Mark 4:37-41). 

Dr. David Jeremiah

It costs to follow Jesus Christ, but costs more not to.

Anonymous

Thoughts on success